Toughest stadiums to play?

[chrisbcbu]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0604/gallery.toughplaces/content.1.html

Wow is all i can say! The Skins didnt even make the top 10!! We got some serious work to do if we are to convince the media that Fedex is just as good as RFK was.

[joethefan]

if we were at RFK...we'd be number 1...

we got too many attractions at CLUB FED EX.

[fent]

i am personally insulted by this

[SkinsASchamps]

How many games did we win at home last year?

[joethefan]

How many games did we win at home last year?

6

[dj_stouty]

Its going to take longer than one winning season to change the mind of the media about Fed Ex.

Fed Ex has gotten better, but we have a LOT of work to do before we get into the same league as Arrowhead or Hines Field.

Getting opposing team jerseys out of the seats is a good start...

[Spence]

I can't disagree with it. FedEx got pretty loud at times last year, no doubt about it. We'd need several years of that, though, to strike fear into the hearts of opponents. I went to games at RFK. That building was nuts. It was a ramshackle old dump. There wasn't anything to do there but watch football and shout yourself hoarse. So that's what people did. And that's what you want in a football stadium.

My view is that there is a direct and inverse relationship between feared stadiums and cigar bars. The more cigar bars you have, the less feared the stadium is going to be. But let's face it: This stadium is just as The Li'l General wants it. Fans screaming their lungs out for the defense spend less money than "fans" sitting around in cigar bars, glancing up at the game on a TV monitor every few minutes.

[CNYSkinFan]

we need to have a dominant winning record at home for like 5 years before we acn be insulted. Too many mediocre years.

That is fine, let them underestimate us. The Bears did as well last year and it got them 3 false starts in a row.

[redskin_rich]

The Skins record at FedEx is 40-29-1 in reg season and 1-0 in postseason. Not bad for a team that has been mediocre during most of the time it has been at the current venue.
And I'm pretty sure all the new stadiums have cigar bars and other creature comforts that the old places didn't have.

[whistleandthumb]

Not surprised. That place just doesn't have the magic yet... but it will. It takes time. Fans are just starting to get used to actually watching the games (what a novel concept!!) at FedEx, and the team is finally putting a product on the field worthy of watching. Another few years of winning, and that place will be pretty rowdy. Any stadium that holds 90,000 peeps *should* be a nasty place to play.

I'm still with Doc Walker, in thinking that Dan should shut the power off to the Club level about 5 minutes before kickoff. Open the stadium earlier and keep it open later if you want to take advantage of the other attractions, but during the game, everyone needs to be focused and doing their part.

[PA Skins Girl]

We showed marked improvement last year, but we still have a long way to go. The stadium is only about 2/3 full at kickoff.

[SkinsASchamps]

75% winning at home last year. Ill take that any year. These things are stupid.

[redskin_rich]

We showed marked improvement last year, but we still have a long way to go. The stadium is only about 2/3 full at kickoff.
RFK was like that too, showing up late and sitting in traffic is a long honored tradition by many Washingtonians.

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

we are going into a playoff season for the first time in a long time. i expect bigger things from the 12th man this season.......

plus i think we need something to be known for. the steelers have the terrible towel, green bay has the cold weather and lambeau mystique. the browns have the dawg pound. the bears have frigid temps and a stadium that looks like a space ship. the raiders have the black hole. you get my point.

how can we make our mark?

[redskin_rich]

...

how can we make our mark?
Uh...Marching Band...Fight Song... ;)

[chrisbcbu]

we are going into a playoff season for the first time in a long time. i expect bigger things from the 12th man this season.......

plus i think we need something to be known for. the steelers have the terrible towel, green bay has the cold weather and lambeau mystique. the browns have the dawg pound. the bears have frigid temps and a stadium that looks like a space ship. the raiders have the black hole. you get my point.

how can we make our mark?

What? Are Redskinettes dont strike fear into opponents??

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

Uh...Marching Band...Fight Song... ;)
now unless kenny and mike start chasing people around with tommahawks, im not sure how intimating that is going to be.
What? Are Redskinettes dont strike fear into opponents??
the only people they'd scare would be the male redskins fans if they came onto the field fully clothed. :D

[GB Skin OT]

As I live across the pond i defer to you chaps who have been RFK and are Fed Ex die hards. What I would say is that I am personally a bit nostalgic for the old stadiums, RFK, Cleveland Municipal Stadium etc they seemed to have much more atmosphere and character ?
Most football (soccer) teams over here stay in their stadiums for about 100 years LOL why the need to change every 20-30 years :rolleyes:

[The Skinsinator]

Ask current nfl players what they think are the top 10 hardest places to play at and I guarentee you FedEx would be in the top 10. More biased crap from the wonderful media. It doesn' t fade me at all anymore. Whatever they want write. They will be eating their words soon enough I assure you.

[whistleandthumb]

how can we make our mark?

Watching some old playoff games from the 80's, people were waving some type of white towel-like product around, similar to the Terrible Towel.

It'd be cool to have a gimmick like that, but the Chiefs don't have anything, and that place is the Lion's Den of stadiums. We just need to put our fondue sticks down long enough to make some noise.

[AliBabba]

Its going to take longer than one winning season to change the mind of the media about Fed Ex.

Fed Ex has gotten better, but we have a LOT of work to do before we get into the same league as Arrowhead or Hines Field.

Getting opposing team jerseys out of the seats is a good start...

Agreed ... on all points. Let's first get those damn cowgirls out of our seats, string a few more winning years at home together, then let's complain REALLY loud.

[smoak]

i am personally insulted by this

You can't take it personally. As a whole, FedEx is wimpy. I actually tend to agree with most of the list. I really want to start a tradition where we "frenzy up" the fans outside the stadium. Maybe get a little bounce pit going or something.

[DoGood]

Who cares, its Sports Illustrated. In fact, you should be boycotting those jokes for their spin and employment of *******'s for lobbying against Monk.

[smoak]

As I live across the pond i defer to you chaps who have been RFK and are Fed Ex die hards. What I would say is that I am personally a bit nostalgic for the old stadiums, RFK, Cleveland Municipal Stadium etc they seemed to have much more atmosphere and character ?
Most football (soccer) teams over here stay in their stadiums for about 100 years LOL why the need to change every 20-30 years :rolleyes:

The NFL is always looking to jam in more luxury seating and the novelty of a new stadium cause higher attendance and gives an excuse to raise ticket prices.

Just my thought thought.

[DoGood]

The NFL is always looking to jam in more luxury seating and the novelty of a new stadium cause higher attendance and gives an excuse to raise ticket prices.

Just my thought thought.

The NFL is ULTRA competitive and if you don't keep up with the rest of the league you will be choking on dust.

[vabeach_skinsfan]

I can't beleive we didn't make that list either. Probaly because we let the Radiers beat us at home last year :imshock:

[redskin_rich]

now unless kenny and mike start chasing people around with tommahawks, im not sure how intimating that is going to be.

I didn't mean it as an intimidator, just pointing out what our trademark is. I don't think the "Lambeau Leap" and a bunch of cheeseheads intimidates opposing teams much, nor do a lot of little towels being waved.

It would be cool if the band stayed down on the field during games and added about a dozen mic'd bass drums. FedEx would be thumping so loud, they would hear it at Gallaudet.

[GreenspanDan]

until last season, FedEx was an extremely wimpy stadium.

even last season, while it had its great moments, i'm still not sure it can compete as one of the best in the league. the prices are just too high. there are too many blocks of corporate seats, especially in the club level. look at the yellow seats in the third quarter of ANY game, no matter how close or how important, and you'll see lots of people leaving, because they want to beat the traffic, or they're bored because they're not real fans. they didn't buy those seats themselves, they belong to a corporate entity that gave them out as a perk.

i'm sure the lower and upper bowls are great, i can't speak for the other levels, as the club level is all i've been to. in the club level we've got a great base of hardcore fans that are there every week, and do what we can, but there are entirely WAY too many rows up there that are empty more often than not, or always full of people who don't really care about the game. more than once people in our row have been asked to SIT DOWN by people behind us. oh pardon us for making noise, too.

no matter how many games we win, those corporate seats will still be filled with people who don't really care that much what goes on at the game.

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

I didn't mean it as an intimidator, just pointing out what our trademark is. I don't think the "Lambeau Leap" and a bunch of cheeseheads intimidates opposing teams much, nor do a lot of little towels being waved.

It would be cool if the band stayed down on the field during games and added about a dozen mic'd bass drums. FedEx would be thumping so loud, they would hear it at Gallaudet.
ok, you are right. it is something to be known for, but we need something intimidating IMO, to seperate us from the rest and gain some recognition. . although, hearing HTTR being played by the band every time we score has started to catch on. we just need to score 5 TDs a game at home to get the tune stuck into to opposing fans heads. :)

[IMALILTEAPOT]

im not surprised, even though we have the biggest stadium with loud fans and our own marching band. they never give the team respect, so i know they arent gonna give the stadium and the fans respect

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

uh oh.....

supe's on!

:D

[superskin]

Interesting Top 10, and I agree with alot of the choices. But let's realize something - all of the top 10 stadiums are either a) storied and historic stadiums that will always make the Top 10 regardless of the team's success (i.e. Bears and Packers), or b) stadiums that belong to teams that have been pretty darn good over the last few years (i.e. Seahawks, Chiefs).

There arent many places "tougher" to withstand than the Oakland Coliseum, both from an "historic" standpoint and due to it's absolutely crazy, rabid fans. But the Raiders havent been a consistant winner, nor are they "sexy", thus their stadium doesnt make the cut on that list. Well, we are very similar in that regard. But for those of us who witnessed the pure and deafening magic that occured in our house last year, from the three consecutive false start penalties against the Bears that secured a win in week one, to the chants of "YOU SUCK" in the Cowgirls and Giants games that could be heard CLEARLY and AUDIBLY on television, we are on the cusp of that top 10. I bet if you asked Kyle Orton or Bill Parcells the top 10 toughest places to play, we would be in the top 5.

I've always believed that our 12th Man is following a pattern parallel to that of our beloved team - we are slowly but surely earning respect and making teams fear us. It will all continue and lead up to one, mind-blowing crescendo...the NFC Championship game and the raucous celebration that follows on our home field. It's coming, folks.

[Skinz4lyfe]

I am not offended by not being on the list. Last year was the first year in quite some time that we have had a "home field" advantage. Teams have not been intimidated to come play us in our stadium. Once we start winning consistently we'll be right back on that list.

[chrisbcbu]

Interesting Top 10, and I agree with alot of the choices. But let's realize something - all of the top 10 stadiums are either a) storied and historic stadiums that will always make the Top 10 regardless of the team's success (i.e. Bears and Packers), or b) stadiums that belong to teams that have been pretty darn good over the last few years (i.e. Seahawks, Chiefs).

There arent many places "tougher" to withstand than the Oakland Coliseum, both from an "historic" standpoint and due to it's absolutely crazy, rabid fans. But the Raiders havent been a consistant winner, nor are they "sexy", thus their stadium doesnt make the cut on that list. Well, we are very similar in that regard. But for those of us who witnessed the pure and deafening magic that occured in our house last year, from the three consecutive false start penalties against the Bears that secured a win in week one, to the chants of "YOU SUCK" in the Cowgirls and Giants games that could be heard CLEARLY and AUDIBLY on television, we are on the cusp of that top 10. I bet if you asked Kyle Orton or Bill Parcells the top 10 toughest places to play, we would be in the top 5.

I've always believed that our 12th Man is following a pattern parallel to that of our beloved team - we are slowly but surely earning respect and making teams fear us. It will all continue and lead up to one, mind-blowing crescendo...the NFC Championship game and the raucous celebration that follows on our home field. It's coming, folks.

I still remember Jon Grudens comments during one of the games "It was 53 vs 90 thousand."

[LATrueRedskin]

I like the direction we're heading now, especially as a stadium. One winning season isn't going to do it, although last year's fans were pretty impressive. Keep it up another year or two, we'll be in the top 10. We have the biggest fan capacity in the NFL.

[PA Skins Girl]

Interesting Top 10, and I agree with alot of the choices. But let's realize something - all of the top 10 stadiums are either a) storied and historic stadiums that will always make the Top 10 regardless of the team's success (i.e. Bears and Packers), or b) stadiums that belong to teams that have been pretty darn good over the last few years (i.e. Seahawks, Chiefs).

There arent many places "tougher" to withstand than the Oakland Coliseum, both from an "historic" standpoint and due to it's absolutely crazy, rabid fans. But the Raiders havent been a consistant winner, nor are they "sexy", thus their stadium doesnt make the cut on that list. Well, we are very similar in that regard. But for those of us who witnessed the pure and deafening magic that occured in our house last year, from the three consecutive false start penalties against the Bears that secured a win in week one, to the chants of "YOU SUCK" in the Cowgirls and Giants games that could be heard CLEARLY and AUDIBLY on television, we are on the cusp of that top 10. I bet if you asked Kyle Orton or Bill Parcells the top 10 toughest places to play, we would be in the top 5.

I've always believed that our 12th Man is following a pattern parallel to that of our beloved team - we are slowly but surely earning respect and making teams fear us. It will all continue and lead up to one, mind-blowing crescendo...the NFC Championship game and the raucous celebration that follows on our home field. It's coming, folks.

The Dallas game and the Giants game are among the best games I've experienced, and that includes games at RFK. At the Dallas game, I wanted the We Want Dallas chant to start, but it didnt. I finally realized that we cant go back to the old days. We have to start our own chants, make our own history. The "You Suck" is awesome. I love that. FedEx is coming into it's own. We need to pick up this year where we left off last year and build on it. We have a great opportunity by starting off on Monday night at home. Go Skins!!

[skins111111]

Sounds like a CHALLANGE to me....I'll do my part Nov. 26 :)

[DoGood]

Don't worry guys. I'll be going to 3 games this year which is one more than I have ever been too. I will bring FedEx Field to the pinnacle of daunting dwellings in the name of the Washington Redskins. I am the 12th Man.

[onlydarksets]

Not surprised. That place just doesn't have the magic yet... but it will. It takes time. Fans are just starting to get used to actually watching the games (what a novel concept!!) at FedEx, and the team is finally putting a product on the field worthy of watching. Another few years of winning, and that place will be pretty rowdy. Any stadium that holds 90,000 peeps *should* be a nasty place to play.

I'm still with Doc Walker, in thinking that Dan should shut the power off to the Club level about 5 minutes before kickoff. Open the stadium earlier and keep it open later if you want to take advantage of the other attractions, but during the game, everyone needs to be focused and doing their part.
We definitely have a way to go. Last year was awesome, but the prior 8 years were average at best. First quarter always started strong, but then by the third quarter it was pretty quiet.

It's amazing what a little winning will do to get the crowd going, eh?

[GeneralDisorder]

That is fine, let them underestimate us. The Bears did as well last year and it got them 3 false starts in a row.

I remember watching the NFL in the 80's when they first showed the sport in the UK and will always remember the noise generated by places like Seattle's King Dome, Miami's Orange Bowl and Houston's Astrodome.

Then to be part of those three false starts that took Chicago out of realistic game-winning FG range at FedEx was the dogs bollocks...

If nothing else, it showed what was possible when the FedEx rose as one got behind the Skins when it was needed. The We Want Dallas Bowl II in week 15 showed what was possible when FedEx got behind the Skins from the opening kick-off...

[BandWagon]

Spot on Spence. Nice!

An article like that is all about reputation, myth, etc....it's going to take awhile to build up that type of reputation at FedEx. We haven't hosted an NFC Championship game with stadium bleachers bouncing up and a foot in either direction...That sorta thing helps.
I can't disagree with it. FedEx got pretty loud at times last year, no doubt about it. We'd need several years of that, though, to strike fear into the hearts of opponents. I went to games at RFK. That building was nuts. It was a ramshackle old dump. There wasn't anything to do there but watch football and shout yourself hoarse. So that's what people did. And that's what you want in a football stadium.

My view is that there is a direct and inverse relationship between feared stadiums and cigar bars. The more cigar bars you have, the less feared the stadium is going to be. But let's face it: This stadium is just as The Li'l General wants it. Fans screaming their lungs out for the defense spend less money than "fans" sitting around in cigar bars, glancing up at the game on a TV monitor every few minutes.

[PA Skins Girl]

One thing to remember about RFK. My dad has been a season ticket holder since the early 60's. They went through years and years of really bad teams. RFK didnt rock during those years. RFK rocked when the team made it rock.

FedEx will do the same.

[828791Redskins]

Looks like the Vikings fan in the picture has a cowgirl tatoo on his arm. Kind of looks like the sticker I want to put in my toilet.

[the real moss89]

The lasy few years, around november and december, arrowhead has been a real tough place to play.

[the real moss89]

we are going into a playoff season for the first time in a long time. i expect bigger things from the 12th man this season.......

plus i think we need something to be known for. the steelers have the terrible towel, green bay has the cold weather and lambeau mystique. the browns have the dawg pound. the bears have frigid temps and a stadium that looks like a space ship. the raiders have the black hole. you get my point.

how can we make our mark?

We are the Hogs of course!:)

[ChiefPowhatan17]

I can't believe that we didn't make the list, but the only NFC east team to be on it was Phully, which is acceptable, but really, solider field and the roller dome, come on.
The meadowlands is harder than the rollerdome.

[GB Skin OT]

One thing to remember about RFK. My dad has been a season ticket holder since the early 60's. They went through years and years of really bad teams. RFK didnt rock during those years. RFK rocked when the team made it rock.

FedEx will do the same.

PA Skins girl this is the best post in this thread:)

[CowboyKilla]

We must prove them very wrong next year. Cause they are very wrong.

[CornerBlitz]

I disagree with almost all these rankings. Lambeau field is not louder than Lincoln Financial! And I hate how the media keeps talking about how loud Qwest stadium is because one team had 11 false starts in one game. give me a break

[IllinoiSkinFan]

Ideas that I have seen other people suggest that I like.

1. ban smoking (no cigar bars)
2. lower ticket prices so true skin fans can afford to go to more games.
3. come up with some sort of gimic (ie towel waving or hatchet spinning)
4. Double the Skin's Drumline and attach mics to the drums.

[BandWagon]

You know the one thing underpinning that entire top 10 is winning percentage at home. That was mentioned in 5 or 6 of the selections. You can't really argue with that. Say what you will about noise and whatnot, but if you're 22-3 at home, it's a tough place to play. The Redskins, until last season, did not have the benefit of that statistic on their side.

[Meatsnack]

You know the one thing underpinning that entire top 10 is winning percentage at home. That was mentioned in 5 or 6 of the selections. You can't really argue with that. Say what you will about noise and whatnot, but if you're 22-3 at home, it's a tough place to play. The Redskins, until last season, did not have the benefit of that statistic on their side.

Bingo. A team is as good as its record. A stadium is as good as its winning percentage. Talk is cheap, whiskey costs money. Let this give us all another reason to stand up and HOLLER!

[lakewinola]

I can't believe that we didn't make the list, but the only NFC east team to be on it was Phully, which is acceptable, but really, solider field and the roller dome, come on.
The meadowlands is harder than the rollerdome.

I agree, there is no way that chicago should be on there.

[shally]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0604/gallery.toughplaces/content.1.html

Wow is all i can say! The Skins didnt even make the top 10!! We got some serious work to do if we are to convince the media that Fedex is just as good as RFK was.


i do not think the fedex creates the sound concentration the way seattle does.. nor are the fans right on top of the players.. that makes a big difference
plus, there are not wind issues the way giant stadium creates them...or altitude the way it is in denver...

[Dept_of_Defense]

Once we start winning consistently I think the fans will be louder more consistently. We have to start winning games on a regular basis, especially @ home. Remember how FedEx was @ the end of last year? That was a place that NOBODY wanted to play @. We have to keep it that way.

[colkurtz]

I agree with Superskins - this list is about tough, lengendary stadiums and newer ones that just have good, consistent teams.

Last season I saw the Redskins-Eagles game in FedEx and the Redskins-Eagles game in the Lincoln Stadium (the Linc). Objectively, I found the home crowd much louder and more passionate at FedEx than the Linc. Part of it was simply the stadium design. By leaving large opening between the stands, much of the crowd roar in the upper seats blows out with the wind. Part of it was because the Redskins are on the comeback trail; the Smeagols season never took off - so the crowds were into it at different levels. Still, nowhere on the planet are fans as nasty as at the Linc.

All the new stadiums have club seasts and exclusive areas. But 90,000 Redskins fans who show up every game in a frenzy will help our team win. If we continue to win consistently for a season or two more, we'll make the list. Have no doubt.